The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-25
CHRISTMAS.

Possibly no holiday known TO the hui
man race Is or has ever been Ike the
Christmas season and Christmas day. IS
there man, woman, or child in Christen-
dom whose pulse does not beat little
quicker. whose heart does not warm, Iit'
tie OF much at the very mention OF the
word Some say that we OF the South
make a special mighty mightiness Of
Christmas. II is very true that our home
experiences have been very beautiful
The biz chestnut and hickory
fires that used TO light up our
country homes. the evergreens and mis-
tletoes, the bright faces OF old Master
and old Miss, the young couples and the
dear children, all piled in under one
roof and the Joy and hilariiY among the
people" in the quarters, pious preach
ing Uncle Daniel, sanity faithful Aunt
Mary with heart and mouth full Of
scripture jewels that she picked up ut
is true), but laid up in her soul super
ANIMATED Aunt Agcic and dear, stately,
well bred, courteous, Eind-hearted Aunt
Jennie Oh these from life, and
all the little ringers. What household
Of happiness did they make up
Of Christmas No stately hail Of
medieval England, with It's surloins
and groaning boards, It's flowing bowls,
throngs Of retaners, and boisterous rev.
elries, have ever presented scenes com.
parable to the bright, Joyous glories OF
the Southern home.
All of US have more or less of sweet
and haIlowed associations clustering
around Christmas
Nor have all the gloFies past Never
has festival 50 held its place and so adj
yanced with advancing civilization as
this. Boisterous and semibarbarous rev.
elry has given place TO wiser, pnrer,
higher, and deeper pleasures Kindness
and charity rule the hour. The streets
are thronged with people that, for the
time, almost scOrn selfish and trad
ing thoughts Every one is set on
the business Of buying gifts, Of devils
g,and doing some act OF kindness. The
children are the reigning leities for The
time being. And there are few that do no.
feel the influence Of fresh, pure, childlike.
simple-hearted wants and genuine Joys.
If any one wants TO see what Christmas
has to do with the advancing age, let him
look TO the stores and see how art and
science and philosophy and skill are
spent to produce gifts that shall be val
liable. useful. and acceptable, and TO pro-
vide the most beautiful means Of extend
ing and exchanging courtesies and eX-
pressing good will. And whence has
all this sprungy Eighteen hundred and
eighty-seyen golden rings Of years, links
Of time, fasten US indissolubly to great
eyent-the central event Of all history,
dividing the old from the new, ushering
in the Christian era, the era Of divine
manhood.
The Christian world as Of that
day raises its song, To as a child is
born to us a son is given. OF the in-
crease of His government and kingdom
there shall be no end" The season is
Christendoms glory. But all the world
feels ifs influence. Nor are glad and
prosperous homes alone lighted by iL
Bereayed households, the homes Of pow
eT,y, the sick-bed, and prison cell have
all something Of It's good cheer. And as
in duty bound, as well as moved by much
gratitude, we offer TO our friends hearty
congratulations, and wish them health,
and love, and mrih as fits the solemn
Christmas tide